Excerpt from Plessy v. Ferguson:

“Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) was a landmark Supreme Court case which legitimized the "separate but equal" doctrine for public facilities. It was used to uphold racial segregation in Jim Crow America during the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. The decision is considered by many legal scholars and historians to be one of the worst in Supreme Court history. It set a legal precedent that the "separate but equal" principle was constitutional.”

Additoinal Readings:

• World Book Student - Segregation
• In Context High School - Plessy v. Ferguson (1878-1899)
• Britannica Middle School - Plessy v. Ferguson

Additional Readings - Reflections on the Past:

• Figure in 1892 'Separate but Equal' Case Is Closer to Pardon
• After 130 Years, Pardon Clears Record, but Cannot Erase Pain.
   

1. What impact did Jim Crow laws have on the ability of African Americans to exercise their right to vote?

2. In what other ways did Jim Crow laws affect the lives of African Americans?

3. Why did the citizens of Louisiana attempt to challenge the Separate Car Act?

4. What is the relationship between Jim Crow laws and the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling?

5. Only one judge, Justice John Harlan, ruled in favor of Homer Plessy.  What reasons did Justice Harlan give for supporting Plessy?

6. How did the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling impact schools in America and the students who attended those schools?